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Elephant Alimentary System - Anatomy & Physiology (view source)
Revision as of 14:24, 28 July 2008
, 14:24, 28 July 2008no edit summary
<big><center>[[Alimentary - Anatomy & Physiology|'''BACK TO ALIMENTARY - ANATOMY & PHYSIOLOGY''']]</center></big>
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<big><center>[[Hindgut Fermenters - Anatomy & Physiology|'''BACK TO HINDGUT FERMENTERS - ANATOMY & PHYSIOLOGY''']]</center></big>
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==Introduction==
Elephant anatomy is very much comparable to the horse and rabbit. Microbes are present in the hindgut that produce Volatile Fatty Acids (VFAs). VFAs make a substantial contribution to the elephant's total energy requirements. Food has a relatively fast transit time and as a result elephants have a low digestive efficiency (44% as opposed to 60% in horses). A fast transit time is achieved by a short GIT, reduced caecum and increased GIT diameter. Their digestive strategy is to pass as large a quantity of low quality food through their digestive tract within a short period of time.
==Features==
*Natural diet is high in fibre (36%) and low in protein (7-10%)
*Juvenile elephants require 3 kg of feed per 100kg of body weight per day
*The passage time of food through the gastrointestinal tract ranges from 18 to 24 hours.
*Lack a gall bladder
*Taenia and sacculations are not as clearly defined as in the horse